Just picked my boat up from a bellows job. I specified I wanted Merc/Quiksilver brand and not aftermarket. The shop owner must have never used them before because he commented on how much easier they were to work with and how pliable they were. My reasoning is our last boat a different shop used Sierra and after 3 years they were starting to crack.

Anyway, I dropped it off Friday and called Monday to ask if they needed the keys (forgot to leave them) and he said he did but also told me they had it all apart and ready to put back together. Dropped the keys off Monday night and the old bellows were off but the gimbal 'ring'? was still on. It is a Bravo 3 (2006). Not sure if I'm using the right terminology but they did not remove the pins unless they did that later but I doubt it. Is it possible to change bellows without taking the gimbal ring off?

Anyway, boat is done and here at home. All Merc parts, new gimbal bearing, shift cable, and bellows. $725 plus tax. Thought that was pretty good?

They apparently left it on when they did mine. When I dropped the keys off he said it was all torn apart and waiting on the parts and the only thing that was off was the outdrive, shift cable, and the bellows (and I assume the gimbal bearing but didn't notice). The pins were still in the gimbal ring. It looked like they could like the gimbal ring and slide the bellows up from underneath.

They apparently left it on when they did mine. When I dropped the keys off he said it was all torn apart and waiting on the parts and the only thing that was off was the outdrive, shift cable, and the bellows (and I assume the gimbal bearing but didn't notice). The pins were still in the gimbal ring. It looked like they could like the gimbal ring and slide the bellows up from underneath.

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If the trim pucks were still in place, then I would say yes, they managed to cram the u-joint bellows up there. If the pucks were off, I bet they just temporarily reinstalled the pins to keep things tidy while they waited for parts.

For me personally, I found it easier to clean the old adhesive, apply new adhesive and install the u-joint bellows with the bell housing out of the way.

I left the bonding wire attached and used a piece of copper wire to hang the bell housing from the swim platform.